London midday: Strong gains for FTSE 100
19th May 2011 12:10
Stocks are testing the 6,000 point mark now as investors digest a flurry of updates. Shares in Investec rose sharply after the asset manager posted a rise in profits in the year to 31 March. The company, which operates in South Africa, the UK, Australia and other markets, said operating profit befo
Read moreInvestec jumps after profit rise
19th May 2011 10:34
Shares in Investec rose sharply after the asset manager posted a rise in profits in the year to 31 March. The company, which operates in South Africa, the UK, Australia and other markets, said operating profit before tax £434.4m from £432.3m the previous year. "The group has achieved further stron
Read moreLondon open: Bright start for stocks
19th May 2011 08:35
It's been a strong start for the Footsie, with Investec among the high risers after revealing its full-year results. The specialist bank and asset manager saw operating profit before tax rise by 0.5%, as strong growth in Asset Management, Wealth and Investment and Investment Banking was able to off
Read moreF&C chairman continues buying
18th Mar 2011 16:54
F&C Asset Management chairman Edward Bramson's interests have been consistently buying shares in the past week, while F&C chief executive Alain Grisay has made a significant disposal. Bramson was appointed chairman of F&C last month after a shareholder coup but his investment vehicle SIGA LP had
Read moreLondon close: Strong end to a strong day
17th Mar 2011 16:49
London's blue chips were strong all day and boosted late on by a strong start in the US where the Dow notched up a triple-digit gain in quick time. For once, investors overlooked the ongoing bad news on the Japanese earthquake and turmoil in the Arab world to hunt out a few bargains. Heritage Oi
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Miners recover
17th Mar 2011 14:18
Mining shares are starting to recover today. Antofagasta and Xstrata are both ahead. Shares in Weir Group are higher after one of its directors, Lord Smith of Kelvin, bought more than £48,000 worth of shares. Legal & General has fallen even though the insurer raised its full year dividend by 2
Read moreLondon afternoon: Shares kick on as US opens higher
17th Mar 2011 13:57
Share prices kicked on over the lunchtime session, boosted by a firm start on Wall Street, where the Dow has notched up a triple-digit gain in quick time. Though the focus remains on the aftermath of the Japanese earthquake and any response to the turbulence it has caused in the financial markets
Read moreMixed performance at Investec
17th Mar 2011 09:07
Asset manager Investec expects a rise in UK operating profits to offset a flat performance in South Africa in the year to 31 March, but warns that the slow pace of economic recovery has delayed an improvement of the level of non-performing loans. The company said operating conditions remain "diffic
Read moreInvestec chairman to step down
18th Feb 2011 14:26
Hugh Herman is to hang up his pin-striped suit on 17 November, after 17 years as chairman of asset manager Investec. Fani Titi and Sir David Prosser, who have served on the Investec Limited and Investec plc boards, for 7 years and 5 years respectively, will assume the role of Joint Chairman. Fani T
Read moreLondon afternoon: Losses grow
3rd Feb 2011 15:26
London is back near intraday lows after an early sell-off on Wall Street. Royal Dutch Shell is still down despite more than quadrupling fourth quarter profits thanks to higher energy prices, an increase in production and cost-cutting. Earnings for the last three months of 2010 on a current cost of
Read moreLondon midday: Mixed reception for company updates
3rd Feb 2011 12:31
Stocks have moved in both directions following updates this morning, but fallers hold sway, helping to keep the top share index in the red. Royal Dutch Shell is a faller even though the oil titan more than quadrupled fourth quarter profits thanks to higher energy prices, an increase in production a
Read moreLondon open: Mixed reception for company updates
3rd Feb 2011 08:27
Stocks are moving in both directions after updating the market and the top share index is currently in the red by about a dozen points. Royal Dutch Shell is a faller even though the oil titan more than quadrupled fourth quarter profits thanks to higher energy prices, an increase in production and c
Read moreInvestec profit edges higher
3rd Feb 2011 07:48
South Africa-focused bank Investec said it saw a marginal improvement in profit in the nine months to 31 December as strength in its asset and wealth management businesses helped offset a weaker performance from banking and advisory businesses. Investec, which also has a large presence in the UK an
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Smith & Nephew bid rumours
8th Dec 2010 15:21
Smith & Nephew is higher on rumours that it could be the subject of a bid. US private equity firms are thought to be considering an offer at 800p a share. There are also rumours that Gucci owner PPR many bid for Burberry. News from the British Retail Council showing shop price inflation fell f
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Banks and miners await Irish news
19th Nov 2010 13:49
Banks and miners are weak as the market awaits news of financial help for Ireland. BHP Billiton, Kazakhmys and ENRC head the mining fallers. Standard Chartered, Barclays and Lloyds are all sharply lower. Outsourcer Capita, which yesterday said revenue growth in the second half of 2010 had been su
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